Global leaders from government and business will gather in Bahrain tomorrow for the fourth edition of Gateway Gulf, featuring a high-profile lineup of international and local speakers including Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Khalid Humaidan, Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla Al Marri and former Binance chief executive officer Changpeng Zhao.
Taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, the two-day, invitation-only event is hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB). It will bring together senior decision-makers and influential figures from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America for high-level dialogue on shifts reshaping global markets and capital flows.
Against this backdrop, the forum will showcase Bahrain and the wider Gulf as a dynamic hub for international capital while reinforcing the kingdom’s role as a strategic gateway to one of the world’s most connected regions.
Under the theme ‘Reimagining Global Partnerships, Powering Sustainable Growth,’ Gateway Gulf 2026 will examine how geopolitical and economic shifts, the energy transition, and technological advancement are opening new avenues for international collaboration.
Focusing on changing capital flows, future-driven industries and the emergence of the intelligence economy, the programme highlights how global businesses can leverage the region’s transformation.
The forum’s distinguished speaker lineup also features prominent leadership across finance, manufacturing, tourism, technology, and logistics. Key participants include Banque Syz AG chief executive officer Nicolas Syz, Mumtalakat CEO Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Corient EMEA president Stuart Parkinson, Alba chairman Khalid Al Rumaihi, BlueFive Capital founder and CEO Hazem Ben Gazem and Investcorp vice-chairman and chief investment officer Rishi Kapoor.
They will be joined by Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority CEO and Exhibition World Bahrain chairperson Sara Buhiji, BlackRock managing director for financial markets advisory Kashif Riaz, ARRAY Innovation founder and CEO Alaa Saeed, Flutterwave founder and CEO Olugbenga Agboola, Air Liquide CEO for Africa, Middle-East, India and Central Asia Nicolas Poirot, Gulf Air CEO Martin Gauss, OneIM partner and head of capital formation Nicholas Pont, 3Forty Partners co-founder and managing partner Yorick van Slingelandt, and Visa senior vice-president and group general manager Ali Bailoun.
Reflecting on the kingdom’s ‘Team Bahrain’ approach, the forum aligns the public and private sectors to drive investment and sustainable economic growth. Its track record of delivering tangible outcomes was demonstrated in its 2025 edition, which saw over $17 billion in announced investments, partnerships, and agreements. This momentum is supported by Bahrain’s ongoing diversification, with non-oil activities accounting for approximately 86 per cent of GDP in 2025.
To translate discussions into action, the programme features targeted private roundtables, one-on-one meetings and investment showcases, providing direct channels for international investors and regional leaders to pursue deals, identify partners and explore GCC market entry.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
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